Leveraging Google Earth Engine platform to characterize and map small seasonal wetlands in the semi-arid environments of South Africa

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how the Google Earth Engine platform can be utilized to effectively map and analyze small seasonal wetlands in South Africa's semi-arid regions, addressing monitoring challenges.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of Google Earth Engine for mapping small ephemeral wetlands, improving understanding of their spatial extent and dynamics.

Findings

Successful mapping of small wetlands using GEE

Enhanced understanding of wetland ecohydrological dynamics

Potential for improved wetland management and conservation

Abstract

Small seasonal wetlands are a distinctive feature of the semi-arid environments. Although these systems are small and ephemeral in nature, they provide habitats to aquatic flora and fauna, and play a critical role in sustaining livelihoods through the provision of ecological services. There is a great concern that these wetlands are not routinely monitored, which has contributed to their poor management. So far, scientific research strides have been noted in mapping and understanding the spatial coverage and ecohydrological dynamics of wetlands in semi-arid areas using broadband multispectral data. However, because of the sensing characteristics of these platforms, mapping and monitoring of small wetlands remains a challenge.